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Abuakwa South MP Sounds Alarm on DVLA Plate Suspension: Insurance and Public Safety Risks Explained

Introduction

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) of Ghana has announced a significant operational pause regarding the much-anticipated rollout of new Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) embedded vehicle license plates. While the suspension was intended to address procedural gaps, it has inadvertently sparked a heated debate regarding legal compliance and road safety. Dr. Kingsley Agyemang, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Abuakwa South, has issued a stern warning regarding the legal and insurance implications of the DVLA’s current directive. This article provides a detailed analysis of the suspension, the specific concerns raised by the MP, and the potential dangers to public protection and insurance coverage.

Key Points

Background

DVLA’s Official Announcement

On December 24, 2025, the DVLA issued an official communiqué confirming the suspension of the new license plate system. The authority cited the inability to complete necessary amendments to the Road Traffic Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2180) before Parliament went into recess on December 19, 2025. Although the Road Traffic Act, 2004 (Act 683) was successfully amended, the specific regulations required to operationalize the new digital plates were not finalized.

The Planned RFID System

The new RFID-embedded plates were designed to launch on January 2, 2026. The primary intent was to modernize vehicle traceability, reduce theft, and promote road safety through advanced revenue collection and monitoring technologies. This suspension represents a delay in a major technological upgrade for Ghana’s transport sector.

Current Directive for Motorists

Following the suspension, the DVLA has instructed that existing Drive from Port (DP) stickers and Defective Vehicle (DV) plates remain valid for use “until further notice.” This administrative stop-gap measure allows motorists currently operating with these temporary tags to continue their activities without immediate penalty or re-registration.

Analysis

The Insurance Coverage Dilemma

Dr. Kingsley Agyemang has argued that the DVLA’s directive to extend the use of DP and DV plates creates a dangerous legal vacuum. The core of his argument rests on the Motor Vehicles (Third Party Insurance) Act, 1958 (Act 42). This legislation mandates that every vehicle using public roads must possess valid third-party insurance coverage.

The problem lies in the nature of DP and DV plates. These are temporary designations issued for specific, limited purposes:

• DP (Drive from Port): Typically allows a vehicle to be driven from the port of entry to its final registration destination. Insurance for these plates is usually conditional and short-term.
• DV (Defective Vehicle): Issued to allow a vehicle to be driven to a garage for repairs. Coverage is strictly limited to that specific journey.

By extending the validity of these plates indefinitely, the MP argues that the DVLA is effectively encouraging the prolonged use of conditional insurance policies that may not provide comprehensive coverage for general road use. If an accident occurs involving a vehicle operating on an extended DP plate, the insurance company may legally deny the claim based on the violation of policy terms.

Public Protection and Legal Liability

The MP’s warning highlights a critical public protection danger. If a vehicle with a temporary plate causes a severe accident, the victims may find themselves unable to claim compensation. In a worst-case scenario, this leads to:

1. Uninsured Road Usage: Vehicles operating without valid, enforceable insurance policies.
2. Uncompensated Victims: Injured parties or families of deceased victims facing financial ruin because the at-fault vehicle’s insurance is void due to administrative technicalities.
3. Legal Disputes: Protracted court battles over whether the DVLA’s directive can override the statutory requirements of the Insurance Act.

Dr. Agyemang emphasizes that administrative directives from the DVLA cannot supersede statutory laws passed by Parliament. Therefore, allowing these plates to remain in use without a legislative amendment to the insurance requirements is legally precarious.

Practical Advice

For Motorists and Vehicle Owners

If you are currently operating a vehicle with a DP or DV plate, or if you were planning to register a vehicle in early 2026, consider the following steps to mitigate risk:

• Verify Insurance Validity: Contact your insurance provider immediately to confirm the exact terms of your coverage regarding temporary plates. Ask specifically if the policy covers the vehicle for the duration of this administrative suspension.
• Seek Temporary Extension Clarification: If you hold a DP plate, inquire if you can purchase a specific short-term extension that fully satisfies third-party liability requirements, rather than relying on the expired DP validity.
• Monitor DVLA Updates: Keep a close watch on official DVLA channels for the new implementation timeline. The authority has stated that vehicles can still be registered at regional offices, but they will require re-registration once the new system launches.

For Policymakers

To resolve the standoff, the Ministry of Transport and the DVLA need to:

1. Issue a specific gazette notice clarifying the insurance status of temporary plates during the suspension period.
2. Ensure that any extension of temporary plates is matched by an extension of valid insurance coverage, closing the loophole identified by the MP.

FAQ

Conclusion

The suspension of the DVLA’s new RFID license plate rollout has created a complex intersection of administrative convenience and statutory law. While the DVLA aims to maintain continuity for motorists using DP and DV plates, Dr. Kingsley Agyemang’s intervention highlights a severe vulnerability in the current approach: the risk of invalidating insurance coverage. Until the legislative gaps are bridged and the insurance status of temporary plates is legally secured, the public faces potential exposure to uninsured road usage and liability. Stakeholders must prioritize a solution that balances administrative flexibility with the strict enforcement of road traffic and insurance laws to ensure public safety.